News

Every January new candidates applying for the program meet with the ASSIST team for the interviews at the Kazickas Family Residence in Vilnius. It was exciting to see this year students applying not just from the major cities of Lithuania, but also from more remote areas. It has also become a tradition that Kazickas family members invite ASSIST team, programs alumni and families of students currently studying in the US to their residence in Vilnius to socialize and share the experiences. This year Joseph Kazickas Post-Doctoral fellows at Yale were also invited to join ASSIST Alumni and to contribute to KFF’s causes by volunteering their time and expertise—something that JPK fellows at Yale and ASSIST alumni are very well positioned to do, given their wide ranging personal and professional achievements.

ASSIST Board Member Woody Rutter who has been interviewing Lithuanian students since 1993 shared that it would be his last year doing the interviews. He expressed his gratitude to all who have been investing in young ASSIST scholars from Lithuania:

“Once again, ASSIST is indebted to the Kazickas family and the Kazickas Family Foundation for hosting both the student interviews and the reception for alumni, parents of current students, Embassy representatives and friends. It was exceptionally well-attended, and it is a marvelous way to reconnect with old and new friends! This year was special, as we were honored to have two of Dr. Kazickas’ children in attendance: Jurate and John Kazickas! John is member of the Board of Directors of ASSIST, and he proved to be a valuable member of the interview team.
Also in attendance were Aukse Jurkute, a member of the very first Lithuanian class to join ASSIST 1992-93. Aukse, a former Director of ASSIST came from her home in London to be an interviewer. She also sponsors a Lithuanian ASSIST scholar each year.
We were pleased to have other notable ASSIST alumni at the reception: Arnoldas Pranckevicius (Representative of the E.U. in Lithuania), our Country Coordinator and alumna Živilė Lazauskienė, Dr. Rytis Masiliunas, Karolis Kucinskas (who usually flies in from London for this reception), and many others!
It was my privilege to once again interview beside my friend, colleague, and fellow ASSIST Director, Joe Gould. This was Joe’s 6th consecutive year interviewing for ASSIST in Lithuania. He takes special pride in selecting and then monitoring the ASSIST students from Lithuania during the year, as all of his grandparents came to the U.S. from Lithuania.
A welcome addition to the interview team this year was Ms. Sarah Stealy, Public Affairs Officer in the U.S. Embassy. Sarah, a career diplomat, was an enthusiastic and helpful member of the “team.” We are so grateful to have the support of our Embassy - both moral and financial!  They are wonderful partners.
Special kudos go to our country coordinator, Živilė. Thanks to her efforts, travels, love of ASSIST and young scholars, we had a greater diversity of towns/cities represented among the candidates. Her communication with English teachers throughout Lithuania has cast ASSIST’s “net” much farther this year, and has yielded positive results!
I am very proud to have been interviewing for ASSIST in Lithuania almost every year since 1993 and to have had the honor of sponsoring two ASSIST students each year (priority to Lithuanian scholars!).
I announced at the reception that this would be my final year interviewing for ASSIST, as I feel it is time to give a younger person the pleasure of doing this wonderful work. I was moved by the groans and protestations, but I do believe it is time. However, I will not stop visiting Lithuania whenever I have the chance!”

Thank You, dear Woody Rutter, for all your work, care and dedication to Lithuanian scholars and Lithuania's future.